DUI checkpoint. File photo.
DUI checkpoint. File photo.

The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) announced Thursday that its Traffic Section will conduct a DUI Checkpoint in North Long Beach on Saturday, January 23 between 7:00PM and 3:00AM.

Officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment as well as checking drivers’ licenses, delaying motorists momentarily. Specially trained officers will be present to evaluate motorists suspected of drug-impaired driving, which, according to the release, now accounts for a growing number of crashes. Motorists caught driving under the influence can expect a DUI arrest to include jail time, fines, fees, DUI classes and other expenses reaching over $10,000.

Over the past three years, officers have investigated 1,032 DUI collisions, which resulted in seven deaths and 370 injuries. State-wide, impaired driving has caused 867 deaths and over 23,000 serious injuries in 2013. Nationally, recent data shows over 10,000 people have been killed by an impaired driver, according to the LBPD.

Recent statistics showed that 30 percent of fatal crashes were caused by a driver with one or more drugs in their system, while crashes involving an impaired driver can be reduced by up to 20 percent when well-publicized checkpoints and patrols are conducted on a regular basis, according to the release. DUI Checkpoint locations are based on collision statistics and DUI arrest frequencies, as well as safety considerations for the officers and the community.

As stated in the release, the LBPD encourages drivers use the California Office of Traffic Safety Designated Driver VIP (DDVIP) mobile app, which is now available for download on a mobile phone. Launched last year, the app’s users will be able to locate establishments that offer incentives for participating in the app, which helps users order a sober ride from Uber, Lyft or Curb, all on one screen.

Funding for this checkpoint is provided to The Long Beach Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reminding everyone to ‘Report Drunk Driver – Call 9-1-1’. 

Asia Morris is a Long Beach native covering arts and culture for the Long Beach Post. You can reach her @hugelandmass on Twitter and Instagram and at [email protected].